I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.”
2 Corinthians 11:3
As women, we’ve all probably said something to the effect of “when I get to heaven, I’m going to have a talk with Eve.” Right? Thinking about the cascade of consequences of that one decision can cause us to shake our head in disbelief, frustration, even judgment. While I’m not excusing the sin, I challenge you to put yourself in Eve’s position: at the time she encountered the enemy in the garden, she was so completely innocent, so wholly consumed by the goodness of God that she didn’t know lying was even a thing! She trusted the snake because she had no reason not to.
I believe we’ve all had that kind of innocence at some point. There have been people we trusted so completely we had no reason to question what they told us about ourselves, others, or God. I certainly have. I had no idea that my parents’, teachers’, mentors’, or pastors’ words to and about me could be wrong.
Most were good people who sowed a bounty of good seed. As much as I respect those spiritual giants, I have to reconcile the idea that their maturity or authority doesn’t mean they didn’t unintentionally sow tares, too. Just because they meant well doesn’t mean they taught well.
Recently, I’ve discovered I’ve limited God and myself because of the words misspoken by people in authority, and I started wondering how many other are camouflaging themselves as truth because I trusted the source. What areas am I living short of God’s promises because I’ve accepted the well-intentioned but mistaken guidance of people I respected? I’ve determined to make this a season of examination, uprooting anything in my life that doesn’t line up regardless of its origin. I’m also reminded about the influence I have in the lives of others, the importance of staying in the Word, and of choosing my words carefully to keep from sowing tares into the lives of others, however well-intentioned I may be.
Lord, help us to see ourselves the way You see us: as chosen, holy, beloved, and redeemed through Jesus’ sacrifice. We give you an open invitation to mess with our perspective. Pull out by the roots every limiting belief we have about You and about ourselves. Show us where we have accepted lies as truth because we trusted the source. We break agreement with every inaccurate word that has been spoken over us or that we have spoken about ourselves both knowingly and unknowingly. Holy Spirit, prompt us to guard our mouths as we speak about ourselves and into the lives of others. We pray that would only sow good seed, speaking words that edify and build up the body of Christ. Your Word says that the power of life and death are in the tongue, so help us to steward that power well by bolding speaking words of life where they are needed most. In Jesus’ name.
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